Independent review of complexity in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme

About the review

The National Registration and Accreditation Scheme was established in 2009 as a single regulatory model for registered health practitioners in Australia.

The NRAS has changed since 2010. Recommendations from 25 previous reviews and parliamentary inquiries aimed to continuously improve it over time.

In early 2023, the public raised concerns about inconsistent practices. As a result, Commonwealth, state and territory health ministers agreed to an independent review of the NRAS.

The review process will involve consultation with stakeholders. This will make sure the NRAS continues to support high-quality and safe health services.

Terms of reference

Health ministers have approved the terms of reference for the review.

Why the review is important

The review recommendations will:

• keep in step with community expectations
• improve how the NRAS makes decisions and deals with complaints about health practitioners
• consider how the NRAS can expand and grow to meet future needs
• advise on how strategy and direction will be set for the NRAS in the future.

Independent reviewer

Ms Sue Dawson was appointed as the independent reviewer in April 2024.

Ms Dawson most recently held the position of New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commissioner. She has also worked in senior roles in the NSW and Commonwealth public sectors for:

• income support
• school funding
• employment policy and programs.

She has qualifications in law, social work and urban planning. Her formal training in public sector policy, regulation and service delivery includes completing the Executive Fellows program at the Australia New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).

She will bring her extensive experience and knowledge of health regulation in Australia to the complexity review.

Key timeframes

The review process will have 4 phases:

1. research and analysis
2. preparing the first consultation paper, including evidence, questions and possible solutions
3. consultation including submissions and stakeholder forums 
4. identification of preferred solutions in a second consultation paper and targeted consultation.

The final Review report will be presented to Health Ministers in July 2025.

Have your say

The release of Consultation Paper 2 follows an extensive round of consultation conducted in Phase 3 of the Review process. The development of Consultation Paper 2 was guided by the feedback and ideas heard through this extensive consultation process.  

To further assist in refining the recommendations and actions arising from the Review of complexity in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme, the Independent Reviewer, Ms Sue Dawson is undertaking targeted consultations with all governments, Ahpra executives and Boards, the Health Complaints Entities of each state and territory, professional membership and peak bodies, accreditation entities and organisations, consumer representatives, and academics. 

Professional membership and peak bodies have well established processes for collaboration with their memberships and partners, to inform their ongoing input to the Review.  

Comments on Consultation Paper 2 can also be provided directly to the Review team until COB 6 June 2025.   

Consultation papers

Stakeholder submissions

Stakeholder submissions to the Review are available on the Consultation Hub.

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